Ying, thank you for that link. How very strange. I look forward to the explanation, if the scientists arrive at one.

Most discussions about planets that might have the conditions for Earth-type life don't mention our unusually massive moon. The Moon has swept a lot of asteroids and meteors out of our orbital path; it stabilizes our axial tilt and therefore our climate; it produces ocean tides. If this planet had bitty moons like Mars has, it would be a lot less friendly to multicellular life.

Our moon resulted from collision with another planet early in the formation of the solar system; what are the chances of that happening? Propitious conditions for advanced life elsewhere might be more common on the big moons of gas giant planets than on rocky planets, with the giant planet's gravity performing the functions that the Moon does for us.

The thing about the solar system in Firefly is that it has extra suns orbiting around its central star. So it's like four outer solar systems orbiting around a large central one. That's how they explain it away, although I'm not sure if a system as complicated as that could actually exist. (For one, most of the inner Alliance planets would never have night time.)

I'm glad that Firefly is being aired here. Firefly on TV is always good news to me.

When multiple stars form a single orbital system in nature (as is fairly common), there is no central star. If people had the tech to move objects with the mass of stars around, they would have godlike abilities.

I believe the celestial mechanics is rubbish, but I'm glad Firefly is airing too.

According to CNN , the "Science Channel will wrap each episode with interstitial segments starring renowned physicist Dr. Michio Kaku, who will discuss the theoretical science behind the show's sci-fi concepts". Potentially cool if you ask me...